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When Brooks Holton submitted his preseason ACC basketball poll ballot, the easiest decision was placing two-time defending champion Duke at No. 1. The remainder of the top four, however, proved more challenging.
In his initial prediction for the USA TODAY Network, Holton had Louisville right behind the Blue Devils. But about a week after turning in that ballot, the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolved a ruling that had granted former North Carolina guard Seth Trimble a fifth year of eligibility to play for Pat Kelsey's Cardinals. With Trimble's status in limbo at the time of his official ACC ballot submission, Holton swapped Louisville with last season's runner-up, Virginia, which he now slots at No. 2 behind Duke. The Cavaliers are led by Holton's Preseason Player of the Year, Thijs De Ridder.
Interestingly, Holton had initially placed Virginia fourth in his first prognostication, behind Miami. He acknowledges the wishy-washy nature of his picks but notes that the competition in the ACC is real. Fans should brace themselves for a winter of high-level hoops.
Key Analysis
Holton's ballot reflects the uncertainty surrounding Trimble's eligibility and the resulting ripple effect on the conference hierarchy. While Duke remains the clear favorite, the battle for positioning behind the Blue Devils is intense, with Virginia and Louisville both in the mix. The preseason awards also highlight standout talents like De Ridder and Boumtje Boumtje, setting the stage for an exciting ACC season.
Below is Holton's complete preseason ACC poll and awards ballot:
Brooks Holton's Preseason ACC Basketball Poll
- Duke
- Virginia
- Louisville
- Miami
- Clemson
- North Carolina
- Virginia Tech
- Florida State
- Pittsburgh
- SMU
- NC State
- Syracuse
- Stanford
- California
- Boston College
- Notre Dame
- Wake Forest
- Georgia Tech
Brooks Holton's Preseason ACC Basketball Awards
- Player of the Year: Thijs De Ridder (Virginia)
- Rookie of the Year: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (Duke)
- All-ACC First Team: Thijs De Ridder (Virginia), Malik Reneau (Miami), John Blackwell (Duke), Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (Duke)
- All-ACC Second Team: Shelton Henderson (Miami), Chance Mallory (Virginia), Patrick Ngongba II (Duke), Amani Hansberry (Virginia Tech), Jackson Shelstad (Louisville)
For more insights, reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Our Louisville basketball reporter's preseason ACC poll, awards ballot.
Originally reported by yahoo.